Improvement in indicators



' Painted ot. 6,1874.

THE snAPmc ca nuormunssh 4I PARK PLA'cE,

' m @am Indicfatnrs.

T. n. manu-ANV a T. H. GRANT.V

y llfrzfses TIMOTHY D. MHRNAN AND THOMAS H. GRANT, OF BUFFALO, Nnw. YORK, AssiGNoRs OF ONE-THIRD THEIR RIGHT To HOMFR O. sHERwOOD, O F

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 155,741, dated October 6, 1874; application filed August 22, 1874.

`NAN and THOMAS H. GRANT, both 0f the any of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of .New York, have invented certain Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a speciiication:

Our invention relates to an attachment to the side of the car, consisting of a case containing a series of type-wheels, capable of being adjusted by rotating the same, so as to expose through a slot in the face-plate of the case a succession of such letters and figures as is required to express the place of shipment and destination, the name of the consignee, date, and character and weight of goods, or any other matter which the tags attached to freight-cars ordinarily contain, the matter exposed through the slot being readily changed by readj Listing the type-wheels.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a front elevation of our improved apparatus with a portion o f the face-plate broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the upper portion of the apparatus.

Like letters of reference design ate like parts in bothy of the figures.

A is the rectangular case ofthe apparatus, and B B1 B2 three series of wheels or disks, arranged` horizontally, one above the other, within the same. Each series of disks is arranged on a horizontal shaft, c, provided with a screw-nut, c', bearing against the last disk of each series, so as to hold the same in close contact, but not so tight as to -prevent their being readily rotated on their shaft. As represented in the drawing, the wheels or disks B of the upper series are provided on their periphery with the letters of the alphabet, so that the name of the place of shipment and destination can be readily composed by turning the disks so as to expose the required letters through the upper horizontal slot d of the face-plate A of the case A. The first portion of the second series of disks is also provided with letters for the composition of the name of the consignee,

while one of this series of disks is provided with the names of the months, and the remaining disks of this series with vgures for the composition of the date, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The third series of disks is provided with letters and figures to express the character of the goods, (perishable or nonperishable,) and the weight thereof. The letters of the second series are exposed through a slot, dl, and those of the third series through a slot, d2, in the face-plate of the case A. The plate A' is hin ged to the case A, as shown at a, and locked to the case A after the type` disks are properly set, in any suitable manner, as shown at j', Fig. l.

The types arranged on the periphery of the disks are preferably made projecting or raised. v

In order to lock the disks in position against accidental displacement by the jar to which they are subjected when the car is in lnotion, we employ one or two strips, g, attached to the inside of the face-plate A', and bearing with their tapering edge on the periphery of the disks between two successive types, as shown in Fig. 2.

To retain the disks While being adjusted,

we employ spring-stops It, fastened to the case A, and bearing with their free ends between the type upon the periphery of the typedisks.

It is evident that one series containing a sufficient number of disks may be made to answer the purpose, and that the arrangement of the disks may be greatly varied, according to the matter desired to be colnposed.

rlhe box or case A is attached to the side of the car in any suitable manner. The faceplate A of the case and locking-keys g are preferably cast of suitable metal lin one piece.

Ourimproved apparatus is designed to take the place of the detachable tags now in common use, and has the advantage of being a1- ways in place when required to be used, do-

ing away with the delay and annoyance occasioned by the loss of tags from the cars while on the route, and at the same time preventing :my alteration of the tag after it has been the type-wheels7 substantially as hereinbefore adjusted and the case locked. set forth.

What We claim as our invention is` TIMOTHY D. MERNAN. The combination, with the series of adjust- THOS. H. GRANT.

able type-Wheels provided with raised letters, Witnesses: l

of the front door of the case, provided with J. J. BONNER,

locking-key g, engaging with the periphery of ERNEST HODDICK. 

